Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-04-23
A Wet ki q.

The following incident is related by
an English painter who was making n
horseback tour through Iceland. We
do not wonder that his spirits kindlc 4
little AT the recollection. The Young
woman was certainly very courageous,
and we have no doubt Il artist 10
right III calling her exceedingly hand
some" He and his Interpreter had
come to a river, which was very much
flooded and looked dangerous to cross.
SO they rode down its banks for a num-
Der of miles ill, fortunately, they found
IA house.
Knocking at the door. we asked, sis
the river very deepP"
Very said q volce from the in
side.
'Is there a man who will show us
the ford?" we asked again.
NO." was the reply; both Jon and
Olavr are up in the mountains; but one
of the girls viii DO quite as well. Here.
Thora, 60 ana show the Englishmen
the way"
Immediately an exceedingly hand
some young woman ran out, and nod
ding kindly to me, went round to the
back OF the house, caught a pony. put
a bride on it. and not taking the
trouble to fetch a saddle, vaulted on it's
bare back, drove her heels into it's
SIDES, and ga!loped Of down the river
bank as hard as she could shouting for
us-tO follow.
We became naturally rather excited
a. such a display OF dash on the part of
saoh a pretty girl, and started off i'm
rsediately in chase. But though we
dad our utmost to catch her, she in
creased her distance hand oyer hand.
There was no doubt about it, she had
Is much courage as ever we could boast
IF, and in point Of horsemanship was
\ hundred years ahead Of either of us.
For about half a mile we ratified
along. when suddenly she pulled up
short on . sand bank.
You can cross bere,' she said, ..but
You must be careful; make straight for
that rock right over there. and when
you have reached it you will be able to
see the cairn Of stone We built to show
the landing place"
'Ail right said; good-by."
She looked puzzled for "a noment,
and then said, all come through w :,
/ you; it will he safer
mo, no! Bjarni." ] cried to my in
terpretsr, don't let her cone; she 10
sure to be drowned. and | cant get her.
out wiSh all these heavy clothes on.
Tell her to go back"
But before l was half through the
sentence, she had tagged her horse int
the water, and in "a moment was TWEEN
ty yards into the river; of course, We
followed AS quickly as possible. and
after a great deal of splasling reached
the middle of the aood.
Now" she sad, bringing her horse
up abreast with mine, and pointing
wfsh her whip, .4here's the mark
The water was runnilag level with
the horse s witaers, and it was oaly by
hitting their heads very high hat they
could keep ,hsir noses clear.
"Good by" she said, God bless
you" and before | vas quite aware of
1t kissed me on the cheek.
was about to re5urn the compli-
ment. but she was gone, and a few
minutes later we saw her, = mere 81
i n the distance. ~galloping over nic
plain.
Kissing, IN Iceland, is a custom SINH
lar to shaking hands here. | had
thought nothing of it in ordinary situa-
tons; but a kiss in the midst of bound
less waters was. to say the least Of it.
strange. 1t was certainly the "wet.est''
one ! ever had in my life.